With Steve Womack leading the pack, three Arkansas Republican congressmen, along with 53 co-sponsors, are promoting legislation to require sales tax on Internet sales.

House Resolution 3179 is called the Marketplace Equity Act, previous attempts have used the term Fairness.

It sounds reasonable, untaxed Internet sales have an advantage over brick and mortar stores. A closer look might give a different perspective.

Let’s examine what Internet retailers don’t do. Internet retailers make no demands on the community. They don’t require police, fire, and other emergency services. They don’t need water, sewer, and garbage collection. They don’t require zoning regulation and enforcement, special planning, and traffic control. They don’t make a huge carbon footprint on the community’s eco system. They don’t make a hot bed of contagion for every virus that comes along. They don’t create a target site for shoplifters, armed robbers, and other predators.

Something else we might be mindful of right now, they don’t bring in heavy muscle to force their way into settled neighborhoods where they are not wanted and where they would compete with established retailers already serving the community very well.

Equally in their favor, Internet retailers do much good. They provide a rich and varied selection of goods at excellent prices. Online they show complete manufacturers’ specifications and users’ experiences with the products. They give a safer shopping experience without time consuming travel and extra fuel expense. They make shopping possible for the elderly and physically impaired. Let’s not forget that they give a much needed boost in business for our Postal Service.

In fairness to us, the consuming public, these tax-grubbing politicians might well be encouraged to leave Internet sales alone.

Bill Hathaway

Russellville

H.J. Res. 15

H.J.Res.15 was sent to Committee last Friday for consideration. Those of you that may not be aware of this resolution, it is a resolution for unlimited terms for the U.S. president. This is not a joke, or a hoax ... It really is!

You can look it up by searching it on the Internet. We must all contact our U.S. Representatives and express our opinions. Our U.S. representative for the 3rd District is Rep. Steve Womack. His phone number in DC is (202) 225-4301. You can also email him.

Please take action for all of us.

Roger L. Boyer

Russellville

Frustration over GI Bill confusion

I read with considerable dismay the article in the Courier Sunday titled “Vets face GI Bill confusion” on page 5A.

I would like to point out however, with great pride that the article does not represent the situation our veterans face at my Alma Mater: Arkansas Tech University.

Numerous programs were started over a decade ago to ensure that returning veterans, some of whom were enrolled at Tech prior to deployment, were taken care of in the priority manner they so richly deserve. Educational benefits are not the same for all veterans because benefits are based on different federal laws, eligibility for which is based on when the service member entered the military; the latest (Post 9/11) is transferable from the veteran to a spouse or dependent.

A special office at Tech for Veterans Services with a VA Certifying Official provides in-depth expertise in all these different programs, and tirelessly coordinates with potential students, enrolled students, Tech Student Accounts, Tech Financial Aid, and the Veterans Administration.

Veterans’ educational benefits must be verified every semester to the VA by the VA Certifying Official via the veteran and the Registrar’s Office. This often means tracking the student down and reminding them of the enrollment verification requirement.

The original objective of the Arkansas Tech Distant Learning program was to enable students, who were also active service members, to continue their studies when called to early deployment training in preparation for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to the Distant Learning program their only option was to drop out of school.

I am unashamedly proud of the dedication of the veterans’ support provided at Arkansas Tech by an extremely knowledgeable and dedicated team. Bill Harmon, Major General (U.S. Army Retired), Arkansas Tech Class of 1960.